Thursday, September 27, 2012

After months in off-season the Sasuke season has begun again! If you remember my post from back in April, 2012 there was mention that Sasuke 28 was in the works for this year after the months of uncertainty with the bankruptcy of Monster 9 back in November, 2011. At long last after a looooong break (Since Sasuke 27 was taped in July, 2011 and aired in October, 2011) it's awesome to see TBS officially announce Sasuke 28 in grand fashion and in TWO languages!

SASUKE began as a special feature of another program back in 1997. It soon became a huge hit for TBS, and the 27th SASUKE tournament was broadcast in October 2011. Now it's back, and TBS has planned a highly anticipated special program for the New Year holiday break.

In the 15 months since the last broadcast, TBS has put a new production team in place, reconfigured the obstacles, redesigned the program, and provisionally given it a new name: SASUKE RISING (tentative).

In recent years, SASUKE has won fans not only in Japan but around the world. The US version Ninja Warrior and the spin-off American Ninja Warrior have achieved nationwide acclaim. SASUKE has taken off worldwide, with hit versions in Malaysia and Singapore created with local athletes, and popular localized versions in South Africa, Turkey, and throughout Europe. Today SASUKE content is broadcast in 157 countries and territories. Athletes from all over the world are expected to vie for a chance to come to Japan and compete in the new SASUKE RISING.

Plans are in place for large-scale auditions for the new program in Tokyo and Osaka in mid-October, with an all-new set of criteria for qualification. Details will be published on the TBS website. In recognition of the international renown SASUKE has achieved, TBS is launching a global publicity campaign to share the news of the upcoming event. In addition to press releases, TBS will be connecting with SASUKE content broadcasters and fans worldwide through Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks.
Comment by Chief Producer Hiroki Kikuno

"SASUKE began as the Olympics of the unknown. Many competitors are ordinary working people who dedicate themselves to building the enormous physical and mental strength required to take on this daunting obstacle course. Once again, in SASUKE RISING, we will tell the story of these brave warriors who come from every walk of life, showcasing the passion they bring to the challenge and the drama that emerges. Whatever you do, don't miss the action on SASUKE RISING!"

There are additional articles popping up faster than I can keep track of but there's one from TBS on their "hot" news with the combined information (in Japanese). So for now, Trials of some sort in October in Japan. Airing of Sasuke 28 on TBS sometime during New Years! Sasuke's new Producer is 菊野浩樹 Hiroki Kikuno while 乾雅人 Masato Inui is the Director. Masato was one of the early Sasuke directors though he has not directed a Sasuke in about 8 years.